NYPD's Internal Affairs Questions Officer Involved In Eric Garner Death
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - New York Police Department Officer Daniel Pantaleo spoke to the NYPD's internal affairs bureau for two hours Monday to determine if he violated department guidelines in connection with the death of Eric Garner.
During the interview, Pantaleo was shown two videos, and his attorney, Stu London, said his client answered questions in a confident and professional manner, 1010 WINS' Carol D'Auria reported.
"It was basically the same words that came out of his mouth, it was a different setting, so it was less of an emotional testimony, it was more of a 'please give me the facts as they occurred,'" London told 1010 WINS.
NYPD's Internal Affairs Questions Officer Involved In Eric Garner Death
According to London, internal affairs does not conduct a thorough investigation while the state prosecutor has the case.
"Now that there was no true bill, they are now doing their investigation, and as a conclusion of their investigation, Commissioner Bratton will determine if whether there was any misconduct committed by my client," London said.
Garner, a 43-year-old father of six from Staten Island, died in July after police officers attempted to arrest him for allegedly selling loose, untaxed cigarettes in the Tompkinsville neighborhood.
In cellphone video of the incident, Pantaleo is seen placing his arm around Garner's neck in an apparent chokehold and then taking him to the ground after Garner refuses to be handcuffed.
Garner is heard saying repeatedly, "I can't breathe!" He died a short time later.
Police Commissioner Bill Bratton said the NYPD investigation will take "upwards of three to four months," but will likely be wrapped up well before the Department of Justice's civil rights probe, which U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder announced last week.
The NYPD's internal investigation could lead to administrative charges against the officer, who remains on desk duty.
The New York City Medical Examiner's office ruled Garner's death a homicide, caused by the officer's apparent chokehold as well as chest and neck compressions and prone positioning "during physical restraint by police."
Police union officials and Pantaleo's lawyer said he used an authorized take down move and not a chokehold against Garner, which is banned under NYPD policy, and said Garner's poor health was a main cause in his death.
A grand jury decided not to indict Pantaleo last week. Staten Island District Attorney Daniel Donovan said the grand jury found "no reasonable cause" to bring charges against Pantaleo.
The decision sparked days of protests across New York City and around the country.
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